Reviews of products by Burling Hull
2 ★★★★★ reviews
33 Rope Ties and Chain Releases
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christopher M. Reynolds (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Friday 13 September, 2024)
I'm an indiscriminate junky when it comes to buying old magic books. It's an addiction. Sometimes, I need a quick, affordable fix to get the monkey off my back.
My latest dopamine hit is 33 Rope Escapes and Chain Releases by Burling Hull. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the workable material within the average person's reach.
When I was five, I saw the movie Houdini with Tony Curtis. Like many other kids, I became a Houdini fanatic. I forget how many hours I spent playing escape artist with my toy handcuffs in my room.
That Christmas, I received a cheap, plastic Adams Co. magic set. It came with classic tricks like the cups and balls, two-card monte, and, to my excitement, the Siberian chain escape.
If you'll only learn one escape trick in your lifetime, make it the Siberian chain escape. It's fast, easy, flashy, and a proven hit amongst audiences for over 100 years.
In Burling Hull's 33 Rope Escapes and Chain Releases, he shares the secret behind that and other escape classics.
First published in 1915, it remains a reliable source for the methods behind simple, workable escapes like the Ten-Ichi thumb tie, the Excelsior tie, and scams used by bogus spirit mediums.
In his book Wiseguy, the late Harry Anderson lists it as the source material for his comedy escape act. Henry Hay also mentions it in the Amateur Magician's Handbook as essential reading for any budding escapologist.
Hull (the self-styled Thomas Edison of magic) also gives practical advice on the staging and showmanship needed to pull off an effective escapology stunt.
After reading this, anyone (even clumsy old me) could create a 10-to-15-minute escape act. Remember: Escapology is like WWE wrestling: 75% hype and 25% spectacle.
This book proves once again that when it comes to performing magic or any of the allied arts, it's not what you do that counts but how you do it.
How to Answer Questions for Crystal Gazing and Mind Reading Acts
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Gregg Webb (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 14 April, 2024)
Along with the Bob Cassidy books, and Paul Voodini books I've been reading lately, this book is a very interesting way to take questions and word your answer so that you are giving for your answer something that was hidden in the way the question was worded. Realize that if working for a large audience, as this method was intended, that the vast majority of people won't know exactly how the question was worded. I knew of Hull from his book on billiard balls, and also some card tricks, but this work for mentalists is very well worked out.
The World's Best Psychic Book Tests
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Sean Hoade (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Sunday 24 July, 2022)
All sorts of interesting and useful stuff here, but also items of mainly historical interest. Recommended, although the price is a bit steep for this.
33 Rope Ties and Chain Releases
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Scott Voshell (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Wednesday 18 May, 2022)
One of the best books on this subject - a real classic.
The World's Best Psychic Book Tests
Overall customer rating: ★★★★★reviewed by Christian Fisanick (confirmed purchase)
Rating: ★★★★★ (Date Added: Tuesday 04 June, 2019)
Excellent. Although this is an old book, the methods are superb and timeless. I especially like the ones that combine another classic concept of mentalism to force a page. You will definitely find a test--or two or three--that you will love and use. Who says that you need to spend big $$$ on gaffed books? I having been collecting book tests for a while now and consider myself somewhat of an expert. This is well worth the money. For a pittance, you will like this.